Pester Brat's Saint and Sinner Hypocrisy Blog

Two reports, and the church's perspective. Sad indeed..... Can church divulge its members' sins? By Michael Grabell and Jeffrey Weiss The Dallas Morning News DALLAS — Does a church have the right to publicly reveal a person's private sins? A Dallas court is being asked to decide whether Watermark Community Church can do exactly that to a man and a woman identified in court records as "John Doe" and "Jane Roe." Their attorney says the pair thought they had revealed their sins to Watermark's pastor confidentially and that their behavior should not be made public. Church officials say they are only following a process of church discipline outlined in the Gospel of Matthew and written into the church's bylaws. "Basically, we're being sued because we're seeking to love 'John Doe' in accordance with the principles outlined by God's word," said the pastor, the Rev. Todd Wagner. Neither church officials nor the pair's at...

Why I Love the Church ...five biblical reasons "The church is the community of all true believers for all time. This definition understands the church to be made of all those who are truly saved. Paul says, "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph 2:25). Here the term "the church" is used to apply to all those whom Christ died to redeem, all those who are saved by the death of Christ. But that must include all true believers for all time, both believers in the New Testament age and believers in the Old Testament age as well" (Grudem). I have defined ministry as: service to God and His creatures as we employ our Spirit-given giftedness, according to the instruction of Scripture as good stewards of the manifold grace of God for the advancement of His kingdom; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:10-12) God has designed genuine ministry to be inseparable from the life and leadership of the local church. An...

"The Almost Christian" George Whitefield “Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian.” — Acts 26:28. THESE words contain the ingenuous confession of King Agrippa which, having some reference to the preceding verses, it may not be improper to relate the substance of them. The chapter out of which the text is taken contains an admirable account which the great St. Paul gave of his wonderful conversion from Judaism to Christianity, when he was called to make his defence before Festus, a Gentile governor, and King Agrippa. Our blessed Lord had long since foretold that when the Son of Man should be lifted up, “His disciples would be brought before kings and rulers, for His name’s sake, for a testimony unto them”. And very good was the design of Infinite Wisdom in thus ordaining it. For Christianity being from the beginning a doctrine of the cross, the princes and rulers of the earth thought themselves too high to be instructed by such mean teachers, or too happy to be disturbed b...

Tongues and Cessationism Pastor Bret Lovitz of Grace Fellowship Presented Sunday May 21st I Introduction Within the body of Christ, arguments still wage on regarding the gift of tongues, and whether certain Gifts of the Spirit, often called “sign gifts” or “revelatory gifts” or “apostolic gifts” are still in use today. I believe that the Tongues were human languages unknown to the speakers, yet known to the people of that nation. I believe that the gifts of word of knowledge, word of wisdom, miracles, and healing, ended in the first century with the completion of the word of God. I believe that the gift of tongues have ceased in operation as they were in the first century, but that God may be pleased to give someone that gift sporadically to reach a person or group of people from a nation with the gospel, and you do not know that language. Anyway, this is why I hold to the view I do regarding these two teachings. II Tongues A) Were there two types of Tongues? It is clear that the Tongu...

Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' (Luk 12:15-20) Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know w...

"Prove All Things by the Word of God" by John Wycliffe "I will run in the way of Your commandments..." -Psalm 119:32 The true Christian was intended by Christ to prove all things by the Word of God, all churches, all ministers, all teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all sermons, all writings, all opinions, all practices. These are His marching orders. Prove all by the Word of God; measure all by the measure of the Bible; compare all with the standard of the Bible; weigh all in the balances of the Bible; examine all by the light of the Bible; test all in the crucible of the Bible. That which can abide the fire of the Bible, receive hold, believe, and obey. That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away. This is the flag which He nailed to the mast. May it never be lowered! A church which does not honor the Bible is as useless as a body without life, or a steam engine without fire. A minister who does not honor the Bible i...

Compassion for the Lost by Charles Bridges “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” —Psalm 119:136 If the Lord teaches us the privileges of his statutes, he will teach us compassion for those who keep them not. This was the mind of Jesus. His life exhibited one, whose “heart was made of tenderness.” But there were some occasions, when the display of his compassion was peculiarly sinking. Near the close of his life, it is recorded, that, “when he was come near, and beheld the city” — “beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth” (Psa. 48:2)—but now given up to its own ways, and “wrath coming upon it to the uttermost,” he “wept over it” (Luke 19:41; Comp. Matt. 23:37, also Mark 3:5). It was then a moment of triumph. The air was rent with hosannahs. The road was strewed with branches from the trees, and all was joy and praise (Comp. Luke 19:36–40). Amid all this exultation, the Saviour alone seemed to have no voice for the triumph—no heart for joy. His...

In the first chapter, Don Whitney gives 12 Biblical reasons for going to church: [From the "Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church" Book] 1. Going to church is a Biblical requirement for all Christians. 2. Going to church helps prevent backsliding and apostasy. 3. Going to church brings spiritual fellowship and encouragement. 4. Going to church expresses obedience to the greatest commandment. 5. Going to church follows Jesus' example. 6. Going to church is a testimony of support for God's work in the world. 7. Going to church enables you to hear in person the preaching of God's Word. 8. Going to church allows you to take the Lord's Supper. 9. Going to church enables you to experience spiritual blessings from God. 10. Going to church helps prevent an unbalanced Christian life. 11. Going to church is one indication of eternal life. 12. Not going to church is one indication of NOT being in God's family. So, why do you go to church?

This is an article that I wote specifically for our Literature Table at the weekly Flea Market. So, You Think That You Are Going to Heaven? Are You Sure ??? The are many religions and professing Christian denominations, local assemblies, and individuals who believe they are going to heaven. The Watchtower Tract Society (aka Jehovah’s Witnesses) think they are the only ones going to Heaven, the Latter Day Saints (aka Mormons) think they are the only ones going to Heaven, the Roman Catholic Church thinks that they are the only ones going to Heaven unless someone has “invincible ignorance,” and a host of professing Christians from various denominations and groups that think their good works will help them get to Heaven. Do you think that you are going to Heaven? If so, are you sure? What do you base it on? Does it line up with the word of God, the bible? The Narrow Way: The Person and Work of Christ Alone Jesus Himself said in Jn.14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one com...

What will they think of next? Full Blown Amusement Park? Of Fire Engine Baptistries and Blasphemy [ From Tom Ascol's Founders Blog] [Note: I actually had this entry prepared before stumbling across the announcement that Johnny Hunt will nominate Ronnie Floyd to be president of the SBC. Dr. Floyd pastors the FBC, Springdale, Arkansas.] Several have asked about the existence of a fire engine baptistry that is designed to shoot confetti out of cannons when a child is baptized. Yes, this actually does exist. You can see it at First Baptist Church, Springdale, Arkansas. The Founders Journal reported on this back in 2000. Following are comments taken from the news items in the Fall 2000 issue (#42) of the journal. Christianity Today (June 8, 2000) and other news sources have reported on what appears to be a new trend in some large evangelical churches. First Baptist Church in Springdale, Arkansas hired a well-known former Disney World designer of children's amusement rides to design ...